A History of Soviet Russia: Volume 4: Foundations of a Planned Economy 1926-1929 (Hist of Soviet Russia) (Pt.4)

by Edward Hallett Carr, R. W. Davies

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Utterly indispensable for any student of the Soviet era, 2005-03-24
For years I've looked for a truly excellent, comprehensive history of the USSR's early formative years. There are a few, but this is the best I've found for a serious student. This work by Carr & Davies is focused on the economic development, the struggles over priorities and strategies, and the reasons why the USSR took the path it did.

The most obvious feature of this work is that it is LONG. Two large volumes devoted to three years in the life of a country--and devoted explicitly to the economic modalities of that country (Carr also has written copiously on the early USSR's other issues, such as foreign policy and political turmoil) suggest that Carr sought to furnish the definitive account.

The book employs a semi-encyclopedic organization: "Part One: the Economic Order" addresses the collectivization of agriculture as a complex process, molded by Russia's distinctive customs and class structure; the development of industry; Leninist mobilization of labor; trade and distribution in a Leninist economy; finance; and planning.

These works are largely free of ideological polemics; for the most part, decisions and actions are treated as responding to known pressures and dilemmas. Yet the style of exposition is lively and candid, so that it is a pleasure to read: fortunate, considering each volume is a thousand pages.

CAVEAT: Readers will surely understand, of course, that Carr & Davies completed this in 1970. Since then, with the collapse of the USSR, an abundance of archived material has become available. However, I doubt anyone who had read neither this work nor any of its breadth would be able to grasp the significance of post-92 revelations.

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